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Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Thursday Nov 19, 2020 through Friday Dec 4, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Nov 18, 6:16 PM 2 min 25° 10° above SSW 25° above SSW  
Thu Nov 19, 5:30 PM 3 min 25° 11° above S 24° above ESE  
Fri Nov 20, 4:43 PM 4 min 15° 11° above SSE 10° above E  
Fri Nov 20, 6:19 PM 1 min 50° 22° above WSW 50° above W  
Sat Nov 21, 5:32 PM 3 min 78° 23° above SW 32° above ENE  
Sun Nov 22, 4:44 PM 5 min 44° 16° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Sun Nov 22, 6:22 PM 1 min 25° 18° above WNW 25° above NW  
Mon Nov 23, 5:35 PM 3 min 39° 28° above WNW 24° above NNE  
Tue Nov 24, 4:47 PM 4 min 62° 40° above W 11° above NE  
Tue Nov 24, 6:23 PM 2 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above NNW  
Wed Nov 25, 5:36 PM 3 min 21° 12° above WNW 18° above N  
Thu Nov 26, 4:49 PM 5 min 28° 18° above WNW 10° above NE  
Thu Nov 26, 6:26 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NW 11° above NNW  
Fri Nov 27, 5:38 PM 3 min 15° 10° above NW 14° above N  
Sat Nov 28, 4:50 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Nov 29, 5:41 PM 2 min 14° 10° above NNW 13° above N  
Mon Nov 30, 4:53 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Mon Nov 30, 6:30 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Tue Dec 1, 5:43 PM 2 min 16° 11° above NNW 16° above N  
Wed Dec 2, 4:55 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Wed Dec 2, 6:32 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NW  
Thu Dec 3, 5:44 PM 2 min 23° 11° above NNW 23° above N  
2020-11-18 23:16:00.0,Wed Nov 18, 6:16 PM,2 min,25°,10° above SSW,25° above SSW|2020-11-19 22:30:00.0,Thu Nov 19, 5:30 PM,3 min,25°,11° above S,24° above ESE|2020-11-20 21:43:00.0,Fri Nov 20, 4:43 PM,4 min,15°,11° above SSE,10° above E|2020-11-20 23:19:00.0,Fri Nov 20, 6:19 PM,1 min,50°,22° above WSW,50° above W|2020-11-21 22:32:00.0,Sat Nov 21, 5:32 PM,3 min,78°,23° above SW,32° above ENE|2020-11-22 21:44:00.0,Sun Nov 22, 4:44 PM,5 min,44°,16° above SSW,11° above ENE|2020-11-22 23:22:00.0,Sun Nov 22, 6:22 PM,1 min,25°,18° above WNW,25° above NW|2020-11-23 22:35:00.0,Mon Nov 23, 5:35 PM,3 min,39°,28° above WNW,24° above NNE|2020-11-24 21:47:00.0,Tue Nov 24, 4:47 PM,4 min,62°,40° above W,11° above NE|2020-11-24 23:23:00.0,Tue Nov 24, 6:23 PM,2 min,16°,10° above WNW,16° above NNW|2020-11-25 22:36:00.0,Wed Nov 25, 5:36 PM,3 min,21°,12° above WNW,18° above N|2020-11-26 21:49:00.0,Thu Nov 26, 4:49 PM,5 min,28°,18° above WNW,10° above NE|2020-11-26 23:26:00.0,Thu Nov 26, 6:26 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NW,11° above NNW|2020-11-27 22:38:00.0,Fri Nov 27, 5:38 PM,3 min,15°,10° above NW,14° above N|2020-11-28 21:50:00.0,Sat Nov 28, 4:50 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|2020-11-29 22:41:00.0,Sun Nov 29, 5:41 PM,2 min,14°,10° above NNW,13° above N|2020-11-30 21:53:00.0,Mon Nov 30, 4:53 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-11-30 23:30:00.0,Mon Nov 30, 6:30 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2020-12-01 22:43:00.0,Tue Dec 1, 5:43 PM,2 min,16°,11° above NNW,16° above N|2020-12-02 21:55:00.0,Wed Dec 2, 4:55 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|2020-12-02 23:32:00.0,Wed Dec 2, 6:32 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NW|2020-12-03 22:44:00.0,Thu Dec 3, 5:44 PM,2 min,23°,11° above NNW,23° above N|

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton